English

Alternative forms

• box-turtle

Noun

box turtle ‎(plural box turtles)

1. A turtle of the genus Terrapene (the North American box turtles), of Cuora or Pyxidea (the Asian box turtles), characterised by having a domed shell that is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators.

Synonyms

• box tortoise

Derived terms